Levi Mortimer Pettis

Obituary from an unknown source [spelling is as in the original]: Levy Pettis - Veteran of War of 1812 Levy Pettis, the oldest person residing in the beautiful "Silent City" at Augusta, Wisc., was born in England, March 23, 1761. He came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer Pettis to New York with the earliest settlers. One brother, Charles W., was a constant companion during the early life of Levy. While yet a youth in his early teens, he entered the War of 1812 and served until it closed. During this time he lost track of his brother, Charles, and never located him again. Levy moved with his parents from Utica County, New York, to Columbia County, Wisconsin. Here they settled and endured the hardships of pioneer life. At an early age, Levy married Miss Minnie Payson. To this union were born eight children: Hyram, Eliza, George, Albert, Roxana, Wilford, Granville, and Develson. They came to Humbird in 1861, and to Pettisville in 1862. Here Levy made his home with Granville and Wilford Pettis for the ten years preceding his death. He was past the century mark when he came to Pettisville, but was active and alert. He had $600.00 which he loaned to shopkeepers in Augusta, but the firms went bankrupt, and he lost his money. Mr. Pettis was a good hunter. At 80 years of age he could spring a steel trap with his nose and dodge quickly enough to escape the trap. At an advanced age, he became caught in a forty pound bear trap, and being unable to extricate his thumbs, brought the trap home on his hands. Mr. Pettis was a modest, unassuming man, very kind to children and to those in need of help. He was active until 4 days before his death. He died on December 10, 1872, at the age of 111 years, 8 months, and 12 days.

There is an Army marker next to his stone which reads "1812" and the back of his stone indicates he was a private, and thus it appears he was in the War of 1812. However, no actual record of his service has been found in the War of 1812 records at the Atlanta branch of the Federal Archives (or Revolutionary War records, either) [source: Robert D Clark].

The earliest Augusts Wisconsin Veteran fighting for freedom was Levi Pettis (b. 2/26/1761, d. 11/5/1872). He served in the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783 and in the War of 1812

Levi Pettis from Augusta was a water boy in the Revolutionary War at the age of 14 and served in the War of 1812. He lived to be 111 years, 11 months and 8 days old and died in 1872 from complications after getting his hand caught in a bear trap, according to stories passed down from decedents.- Honoring heroes: Diz Kronenberg's new book documents Chippewa Valley soldiers’ exploits in battle